"ngader" posted this luggage wheel photo on Flicker with this tip in the caption: " Rule of thumb : When buying luggage, check the wheels. Try not to buy wheels with rubber bits. Buy the full fibre / hard plastic wheels."

Yesterday, I received an email alert from Squidoo about a blog on how to prevent lost luggage.

The writer, Victoria Neely, once worked for an airline as a baggage agent so she knows what she is writing about. With all the things she has seen go wrong with luggage, she says she is "frankly amazed that most checked bags return to their owners unscathed!"

Even if your bag is not lost (and there is a six in one thousand chance it will be), it's likely to get broken or dirty at some time or another.

You can't make it impossible for something to go wrong but there are a number of things you can do to improve your bag's chances of greeting you in good shape at the other end of your mutual journey.

There are a lot of useful tips in this article along with some interesting and surprising facts. For instance, did you know there is a reason baggage is handled roughly instead of gently?

And Ms. Neely is not hesitant to recommend some bag brands that she has seen hold up well.